Being an adult means tackling things we’d rather not do, and that is especially true when it comes to certain household chores. According to a new survey compiled by the American Cleaning Institute, over half of Americans rank this task their most hated out of all of them—do you agree?
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As the holidays approach, you’re probably beginning to haul your seasonal decorations and wrapping paper out from storage. Surprise! Your storage space is brimming with things you totally forgot about, too. But don’t be dismayed by all the crap you forgot—it’s actually great that you’re noticing it during a season when giving back is top of mind. Think of the holidays as your yearly reminder to donate your old, outgrown, and gently used items.
However, as you start on your decorate-and-purge journey, keep in mind there are some items that absolutely no one wants—but that doesn’t mean you have to throw them away! Here, four things you should recycle or repurpose instead of donate:
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Name: Jamie Gasparovic, husband Ryan, and two rescue pups
Location: Orlando, Florida
Size: 2,000 square feet
Years Lived In: 2 years, owned
When my husband Ryan and I were looking for our first house, we were looking exclusively at fixer uppers. I’m an interior designer, so I’m very particular about my house looking how I want, and I didn’t want to pay a premium for someone else’s tastes and renovations that I didn’t even like!
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Did you stand in bookstore lines for the newest releases, dress up in robes for midnight premieres, and take every single House quiz? The Harry Potter series enchanted the world when it first came out, and the phenomenon continues to grow through its amazing fandom. We’ve summoned up the best DIYs to keep the magic going. (Just make sure to invite us to your next Harry Potter movie marathon.)
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“Fixer Upper” fans, here’s a small space for you: a tiny farmhouse. Seriously, it’s practically impossible to take in the sight of this adorable abode without swooning and sighing just a little. Named Roost 36, the Perch & Nest-designed home sits on a four-acre farm in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
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If you dream in ski chalets or rustic cabins, then Giuliana and Bill Rancic’s Iowa vacation home is gonna knock your (woolen) socks off. At 4,900 square feet, this lakeside home is probably a little larger than your own space — but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of ideas here worth borrowing for a more modest spread.
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Name: Mary and Tom Eirich
Location: Watertown, Massachusetts
Size: 1,100 square feet
Years Lived In: 2 years, owned
We had previously lived in Belmont, Massachusetts, for 30 years and had decided, as empty nesters, to move to the north shore, not far from the ocean. After a few years of being further from our children (and, eventually, grandchildren) and also missing the conveniences and cultural benefits of being close to the city, we decided to look at real estate closer to Boston. After some careful searching, we came upon a condo in Watertown that was comfortable enough for two people but also large enough to entertain. The only downside was that the space, which was one of the first in Massachusetts to house individually-owned units, had been virtually untouched since it was built in 1975. It was dark and dated with wall-to-wall carpeting and it begged for more functionality.
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Variation in color, pattern, texture, and style is essential to decorating—it keeps things interesting. When it comes to wood finishes, match-y match-y floors and furniture look staid and flat. It’s also largely impractical for those of us who don’t buy all our stuff in one fell swoop. People are far more likely to cobble together a room over the years, bringing together a mix of inherited, found and purchased items with a variety of finishes. Here are a five secrets to making it all mesh…
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If millennials are a confusing demographic, wait until Gen Z grows up a little bit. I’ve read a couple of head-scratching studies predicting their intro into the real estate market—one predicted that 83 percent of Gen Z planned to purchase a home within the next five years, and another said that the group is twice as likely to start saving for a home by age 25—even when only about 18 percent are expecting family financial assistance for the big purchase. As someone with a brother six years younger than me, I know firsthand that the kids in college right now are bound to live a very different life than I am now. But these numbers are somewhat baffling to me—considering I am 26 and still don’t think I’ll be able to buy a home in the next five years.
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There’s something so cozy about the idea of having a nook under the stairs. It inspires the same kind of feelings as a treehouse, where you can tuck into a hidden corner and spend time reading, daydreaming, or napping. But as it turns out, there are more ways than one to use that dead space underneath your stairs. You can transform it into an extra storage space, change it into an open library, or even carve out a mini home office if you don’t have the extra room in the house. Below are under-the-stair nooks you will want to copy ASAP—which would fit best in your own house?
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